PARKING PLACES IN CITY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22429, 16 June 1938, Page 4

PARKING PLACES IN CITY

PROVISION BY CITY COUNCIL SOUGHT MOT9BISTS TO DISCUSS POSITION “So far, the parking problem in this city has only been tinkered and fiddled with,” declared Mr F. W. Johnston at last night’s meeting of the .Automobile Association, Canterbury. His remark was the opening sentence of a brief speech he made, giving notice that he would move at the next meeting that the association urge the City Council to provide parking places for cars other than in‘the streets. He urged members of the association to use vision and foresight in considering the matter, and to put away their usual conservatism. Most motorists, whether they used their cars exclusively or not, had to pay a tram rate, he said,' and if it so happened that a small addition to the city rates had to be made by the council to provide the parking places, then it would only be r a quid pro quo. Such a step, too, would greatly benefit the motor trade and business generally. A member: Do you want buildings put up or just areas set aside? Mr Johnston said that at first areas could be set aside. Jn the years to come members might visualise a 10storeyed building on those areas. Some criticism of the proposal, on the ground of the additional tax burden was tentatively made by Mr F. W. Freeman, but it was checked by a ruling that a notice of motion could not be discussed. The discussion was not finally closed, however, before Mr Johnston, amid laughter, styled Mr Freeman an “ultra-conservative, who would oppose every forward move.” Mr Freeman denied this, and other members suggested that the next meeting should perhaps start an hour earlier, to give time for the clash of views between the two speakers.